PKB: Political or 'pesantren'?

PKB: Political or 'pesantren'?

From Media Indonesia

The various reports on the National Awakening Party (PKB)
relating to the Matori group as well as the camp of Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid and Alwi Shihab, can be judged by reference to
the party's statutes/bylaws (AD/ART). The Gus Dur & Alwi Shihab
camp apparently hardly ever follows party rules, which prompts
it, in directing PKB, to exercise more of its influence among
Nahdlatul Ulama members, such as in managing pesantren (Islamic
boarding schools). Meanwhile, the Matori faction treats PKB as a
political party and thus seems to rely more on party rules.

When Matori Abdul Jalil was dismissed as general chairman of
PKB, he was charged with a breach of party discipline, but Gus
Dur, as chairman of the advisory board, completely ignored PKB's
AD/ART. Article 10, paragraph 6 of the rules on termination of
membership stipulates, "in the case of a member holding a certain
function in the party, the decision on his/her suspension or
dismissal shall be made by the party executive board a level
higher, based on a proposal of the relevant executive board
confirming his/her membership, after a plenary meeting."

Likewise, the Gus Dur & Alwi camp's appeal for reconciliation
was not based on the AD/ART. On the other hand, the Matori group,
accused of setting up a rival central board, called on all PKB
executives to convene an extraordinary congress, preceded by a
national conference in November.

Under party rules, such assemblies are controlled. For
instance, article 36, paragraph 1 of the ART reads, "an
extraordinary congress can be convened when a situation
considered to be a threat to the continuity of the party arises."
In this way, Matori's suggestion for a special session, apart
from being based on concern that the party's future existence may
be under threat, also serves to confirm the group's view that PKB
is a political organization possessing internal rules.

I wish to ask Gus Dur a question: is PKB a political party or
a pesantren?

AWANG AWARI

Jakarta